Etching machines



July 19, 1966 J. F. LEAR 3,261,370

' ETCHING MACHINES 1 Filed Sept. 14, 1964 i s Sheets-Sheet 1 i v F 16.1.. I

July 19, 1966 J. F. LEAR ETCHING MACHINES 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 NN mm FiledSept. 14, 1964 July 19, 1966 J. F. LEAR 3,261,370

ETCHING MACHINES Filed Se t. 14, 1964 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 July 19, 1966 J.F. LEAR ETCHING MACHINES 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 14, 1964 FIG. 4

INVENTOR July 19, 1966 J. F. LEAR ETCHING MACHINES 6 Sheets-Sheet 5Filed Sept. 14 1964 INVENTOR July 19, 1966 J. F. LEAR -ETCHING MACHINES6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Sept. 14, 1964 United States Patent 3,261,370ETCI-IING MACHINES John F. Lear, Easton, Pa., assignor to IndustrialGravure (30., Easton, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Sept. 14,1964, Ser. No. 396,116 17 Claims. (Cl. 134-147) The present inventionrelates to an etching machine and, more particularly, to machines ofthis type for etching metallic printing plates or segments having anarcuate or cylindrical contour.

Accordingly, the principal object of this invention is to provide anetching machine that will impinge or propel the etchant against thecurved surface in such a manner as to more accurately contact all sidesof the image area thus producing a more uniformly etched image.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a cooperativeorganization of elements that will insure proper etching of the curvedplate or cylinder and furnish a much greater perfection in colors.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a means havingsuch versatility of adjustment that it will provide more accurateperipheral speed for all sizes of cylinders or their counterpart-thearcuate segment or curved plate.

Another object of the invention is to provide an adjustable speedcontrol drive means by means of which the peripheral speed of the curvedplate may be more accurately controlled, thus insuring uniformapplication of the mordant to the curved surface thereof.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a unique drive meansfor the work supporting means.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a new etchingmachine having a high efiiciency for more accurate production of etchedplates and one which is economical to manufacture and is of a relativelysimplified construction.

The details of the invention, as well as additional objects andadvantages, will be clearly understood with reference to a preferredembodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings employing similarreference numerals to identify the same elements in each of the severalviews, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view partially in section of the improvedetching machine;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view partially in section of the newetching machine;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the front of the machineshowing in further detail the preferred embodiment of the inventiondisclosed herein;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged transverse sectional view through the etchingchamber taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective and more detailed view looking intothe tank showing partially in section the fiinger disc which inducesreturn of the etchant to the chamber of the machine;

FIG. 6 is another enlarged perspective view looking out of the tank withthe paddle shaft and fiinger disc omitted for clarity and also clearlyshowing the upper and lower halves of the tank;

FIG. 7 is another enlarged perspective View of an alternative form ofthe invention showing in detail the drive means for the work supportingmeans;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged front elevational view partially in section takenon line 8--8 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view on line 9-9 of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view on line 10-10 of FIG. 9.

Turning now to a description of FIG. 1, which, together with FIGS. 2, 3,5 and 6, show the preferred embodiment of the invention there is shownan elevated platform 10 the top portion 11 of which forms a base for theetchant tank or receptacle 12.

From an examination at this time of the various views of the etchingmachine it will be observed that it comprises a receptacle which issubstantially rectangular and includes front, rear, side and top walls,latter of which is provided with hinge means extending along theperimeter or top edges of the opposed side walls. As has been shownfragmentarily in FIG. 2, the hinged top wall separates along a lineextending parallel with but above the axis of the work support meanswhich will be de scribed in greater detail later.

With reference to the tank 12, and the view in FIG. 1, it will be notedthat the receptacle is constructed of two complementally formed halvesseparable along a horizontal line with the upper portion beingdesignated 13 and the lower porton being identified as 14, with thelatter forming a chamber for the etchant, or if desired adaptable toreceiving a separate or removable tray means, not shown. As is bestshown in the detailed views of the butt joint for the tank (FIGS. 5 and6) the perimeter 15 of the lower half of the tank at its front and rearwalls is dished out or undercut to a predetermined extent to providediammetrically opposed slots for a purpose that will become apparent.The top half of the tank indicated at 13 has secured thereto, by meansof welding, at its lower extremity suitable elongated strap elements 17and 18 which straddle the rim of the lower portion of the tank andthereby function as guide means when the upper portion of the tank isbeing lowered into position in abutted arrangement with the lowerportion. As the description progresses, it will become apparent that byconstructing the etching tank in this manner access may be readily hadthereto for removing and replacing the paddles as well as thoroughcleaning of the inside of the receptacle.

General description of the drive mechanism At this time by referring toFIG. 2 it will be seen that an upstanding frame work 1919 includingbases 20-20 are adapted to be positioned adjacent to one side of themachine and are, thus, arranged to support, by means of a verticallyextending web 21 the gear reducing means 22 from the opposite ends ofwhich project stub shafts 23 and 24 to which are revolubly secured drivesprocket means 25 and 26. Referring once again to FIG. 2 (as well asFIG. 1) it will be seen that the upper portion of the framework 1919 isprovided with upstanding bearing means 27 and 28 adapted to revolublysupport therebetween an elongated horizontally disposed shaft 29adjacent to the opposite ends of which are keyed sprocket means 30 and31. Another drive sprocket 32, the circumferential area of which ispredetermined to provide the desired drive speed for the revoluble worksupporting means is keyed to shaft 29 at a position directly abovesprocket 25 so as to be coplanar therewith and, thus be arranged toreceive a drive chain 33 which is entrained therebetween.

Positioned above the base 11 of the framework at the opposite endsthereof are brackets or shelves 34 and 35 which support sprocket drivemeans 36 and 37 that in turn revolubly carry the opposed end portions ofshaft 38 and to substantially the medial area of which is keyed asprocket 39 of adequate circumferential area to function as a powerinput into the gear reducing mechanism 22 by means of an endless drivechain shown at 40. The driving motor 41 may be positioned at anypreferred point in the area of the input shaft 38 and, thus, is onlyschematically shown in FIG. 2.

The previously described sprocket means 30 and 31 .drive into gear means42 and 43 carried adjacent to each end of the shaft means 44 which formsthe axis of the work support means 45 with each end of the shaft meansbeing arranged to project through the opposed perpendicularly slottedareas 46 and 47 in the front (and rear) wall of the tank 12. The reel 45which forms the work supporting means in this disclosure is of awell-known type such as shown in the earlier prior art patents. The gearreducer 22 is of a type now commercially available.

Referring once again to FIG. 1 and then to FIG. 2, it will be noted thata sprocket means 39 driven by the input shaft 38 is revolubly associatedwith the paddles 48 and 49 by drive chain means.

Each of the paddles 48 and 49 include axially extending shafts 50 and51, respectively, which project through the slotted area 15 at the frontof the tank wall referred to hereinbefore. As is probably best shown inFIG. 1, the drive chain means 52 is entrained about sprocket means 37carried by the input shaft from whence it travels upwardly to and aboutidler means 53, thereafter substantially perpendicularly thereto toengage a lower sprocket means 54 carried by the shaft 50 up an inclinedplane toward the sprocket gear means 55, carried at the shaft end of theadjacent paddle, then downwardly about another idler means 56 and thencerearwardly back toward the input shaft 38. It will be apparent from anexamination of FIG. 4, that the manner in which the chain is entrainedabout the sprocket means carried by the paddles as well as the idlers,that the paddles will be driven in opposition to each other, thusresulting in a convergent fiow of the etchant from the bath toward thework supporting means.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, it will be seen that adjacent to thefront of the etching machine and in spaced relation thereto andsupported on the base 11 are a series of vertically disposed,transversely extending plates 57, 58, and 59, with the medially disposedof said series of plates, i.e., 58, extending above the plane of theplates disposed on the opposite sides thereof for a purpose that willbecome apparent as the description progresses.

Since the vertically disposed plates 57 and 59 are substantiallyidentical only one will be described.-' At the lower extremity of plate57 there is provided a right angular integral outwardly extending footportion 60. The foot portion 60 may be secured to the base 11 bybolting, welding or any other suitable means.

In spaced arrangement above the foot 60 there is shown an offstandingangular upturned L-shaped element 61 which acts as a support for thebottom edge of the slide 62. In spaced relation above element 61 is acomplemental downwardly extending L-shaped guide means 63 which is insliding engagement with the top edge of the slide 62, thus, together thepair of elements form a guide means for slide 62. At this time attentionis directed to the right-hand portion of FIG. 1, where it will beobserved that the paddle shaft 50 is arranged to project through aperforation in slide 62 (FIG. 3) and thence into a bearing means 64carried on the outer surface of the slide 62.

As viewed best in the fragmentary perspective view of FIG. 5, there isdisclosed a portion of the front wall of the tank through which theshaft 50 of paddle 48 is arranged to project, as described hereinbefore.In this view the abutted arrangement of the top portion 13, as well asthe bottom portion 14 of the tank together with the strap elements 17and 18 are likewise shown. As shown in FIG. and the exterior frontportion of the tank 65 there are spot or tack welded at their flangeportions 65 and 66, above and beneath the separation area of thecomplemental tank elements, a pair of complementary formed plates 67 and68, the overlapping edges of each of which are deformed or undercut at69 and 70, thus together forming a slot which is complemental to theslot formed in the tank, best shown in FIG. 6 and within which therotatable shaft 50 may reciprocate in a horizontal path.

A flinger disc or 'baflie 71 comprising a centrally apertured annulus isaffixed to and revolubly supported on the shaft 50 and will deflect anyliquid which is emitted from the slotted area in the walls of theetching receptacle back toward the weep hole where it will return to thetank.

It is to be understood, of course, that all of these elements areduplicated in the other half of the tank, in that the paddle 49 alsoincludes a shaft 51 and flinger disc 72 with the end of the shaft 51being supported in a bearing means 73 which is secured to slide means74.

The medially disposed plate 58 is also provided with opposed channelguide means 75 and 76 in the upper area thereof adapted to slidablysupport plate 58. The outwardly extending extremity of the shaft axis 44of the reel or work support member extends through a perforation in theplate 58 and is supported in a bearing means 77.

Considering first the vertical adjustability of the work support meansthrough the axially extending shaft 44 thereof, this is accomplished bymeans of the perpendicularly disposed shaft 78 which has its upperportion externally threaded as at 79 and thus adapted to be received inan internally threaded bearing means 80 suitably secured to the outersurface of slide 81, as shown.

At the lowermost extremity of shaft 78 there is aflixed by means of akey a bevel gear 83 which in turn is driven through a complemental bevelgear 83 secured to the end of the horizontally disposed shaft means 84.The exterior surface of plate 58 is provided with bearing means 85 and86 the bases of each of which are provided with suitable spacing means87 and 88, respectively, to permit exact perpendicular disposition ofthe shaft 78.

Relative to the arrangement for accomplishing the simultaneousadvancement toward each other as well as the receding movement from eachother, the slides 62 and 74, respectively, are provided on theirexterior surfaces adjacent to their opposed edges with internallyoppositely threaded nut means 89 and 90, which are adapted to receive ashaft means 91 that is supported in spaced bearings 92 and 93. Theopposed end portions of shaft 91 are externally threaded in oppositedirections to correspond to the directional threading of the nut means89 and 90, thus permitting the slides to simultaneously reciprocatelinearly in a horizontal plane to-and-fro. A sprocket means 94 is keyedto shaft 91 and is arranged to be driven therefrom by a chain means 95endlessly entrained about revolubly supported sprocket 96 which is inturn keyed to and revolubly carried by the shaft 99 which is supportedat its opposed ends in bearing means 97 and 98. The bearing means 97 and98 are supported in a position offstanding from the exterior surface ofthe, slides 62 and 74 through spacer means which may constitute metalblocks bolted or otherwise secured to the reciprocable slides.

As best shown in FIG. 3 the ends of shafts 84 and 91 may be providedwith sprocket members 101 and 102 for a purpose now to be described.

Each of the shafts 84 and 91 are provided at their uppermost extremitiesadjacent to the upstanding corner of the machine with pin means 103 and104 by which rotation of the shafts 84 and 91 may be achieved by meansof manually rotation of a crank, not shown. As schematically shown inFIG. 3, the sprocket means 105 and 106 carried adjacent to the outerextremities of the shafts 84 and 91 are adapted to be driven together orsimultaneously by means of a crank applied to either shaft through themedium of a chain entrained thereabout. Thus, when the chain 107 isapplied to the sprocket means 105 and 106 in the manner schematicallyshown, and a crank is applied to the end portion of either of the shafts84 or 91, the slides 62 and 74 can be reciprocated gradientlyto-and-fro, thus causing the slides to advance forward or recede fromeach other depending upon the direction of rotation of the crank appliedto the shafts and simultaneous therewith the slide 81, which is adaptedto revolubly support the offstanding axis of the work support means 45,is moved perpendicularly relative to the supporting bracket 58. Thus, itwill be readily apparent that when the sprocket means 105 and 106 aredriven in unison by the chain 107 there is a resultant gradient raisingand lowering of the work support means relative to the gradientsimultaneous to-and-fro movement of the horizontally arranged slides 62and 74. Of course, it is apparent from the foregoing that upon removingthe chain 107 from its entrainment about sprocket members 76 and 77 eachof these shafts may be driven independently of the other to, thus raiseperpendicularly the slide 81 which supports the work support means 45 aswell as to reciprocate the slides 62 and 74 back and forth relatively toeach other.

The foregoing disclosure which generally relates to the gradientreciprocal movement of the paddle means, toan'd-fro relative to thefront and rear of the tank while at the same time the work support meansis coordinated therewith, is not intended to be restrictive of theinvention disclosed but merely one manner in which it may be utilized.Further, by way of illustration, attention is directed at this time toFIG. 2 where it will be noted that the chain 107, discussedhereinbefore, is not illustrated and also the fact that the work supportmeans is shown at the top of the slotted area in which it is confinedfor vertical movement. It is conceivable particularly in view of themodifiability of the components of this improved etching machine that anoperator could avail himself of an oversize work support means whichduring experimentation would require that the gradient movement of theslides and the work support means relative to each other be varied morethan permissible when the chain 107 is utilized. In addition, thelongitudinal area of the slotted openings in which the elements areadapted to reciprocate is only considered to be representative for it iscontemplated that by elongation of each of the means defining theslotted openings the slides as well as the work support means canbebrought into closer proximity to one another.

This etching machine, it will be thus observed, is far more versatilethan any others that have been known heretofore. By experimentation,which is available in the unusual design and construction of thisetching machine depending upon the ability and knowhow of the operator,much more refined etchings showing considerably reduced undercutting maybe achieved.

Turning now to the alternative form of the invention shown in FIGS. 7through 10, and referring particularly at this time to FIG. 7, there isshown in an enlarged perspective fragmentary view a portion of the frontwall of the tank at 200 with the work support means being clearly shownin the cut away view therebehind. The upstanding bracket means 201together with the guide means 202202 formed therewith are only generallyandfragmentarily shown since this portion of the etching machine issubstantially identical to the preferred embodiment thereof describedabove.

The reciprocable slide means 203 and 204 are only fragrnentarilyillustrated with the shafts 205 and 206 which carry the paddles (notshown) extending through perforations in said slides and rotatablysupported in bearing means 207 and 208.

In this alternative embodiment of the invention the shaft 209 extendsfrom adjacent to the edge of the bracket, (not shown in FIG. 7 but seeFIG. 3), horizontally past the slides 204 and 203 with the oppositelythreaded areas thereof indicated at 210 and 211 being intercepted bynuts means 212 and 213 each of which are secured to the reciprocableslide means 203 and 204. respectively.

As previously described in connection with the preferred embodiment ofthe invention the bracketed supporting means for the gradientreciprocation of the several slide means, including the intermediatebracket means for slidingly supporting the work support means in aperpendicular direction to-and-fro, this embodiment also includes asimilar upstanding intermediate bracket means at 201,

6 which is arranged in spaced relation to the front of the tank. (FIG.9). However, in this embodiment of the invention the bracket 201 isprovided with a pair of vertically arranged slots shown at 214 and 215for a purpose that will become apparent later. This form of theinvention also includes a vertically disposed shaft 216 the upperportion of which is threaded at 217 and adapted to engage with anenlarged horizontally disposed nut 218 with the lower end of said shaftbeing provided wit-h a bevel gear 219 which is in driven engagement witha driving bevel gear 220 carried at the inner end of the horizontallyarranged shaft 221 all of which will be understood from the descriptionof the preferred embodiment.

The rear extremity of nut 218 is secured to an upstanding block 219 bybolting or welding, said block being arranged in face-to-face contactwith the slide 228 and adapted to support an offstanding shelf member222 which has complemental portions that extend to the front and rear ofthe slide and include vertically extending support or carrier elements223 and 226 which, provided with a pair of spaced perforations areadapted to receive suitable bearing means.

A vertically disposed slide 228 which includes a pair of horizontallyarranged apertures provided with bushings 229 and 230 is confined withinthe guide rails 202202 provided at the oppositely disposed inturnededges of the bracket 201 with said slide being adapted to receive a pairof horizontal spacedly arranged shafts 231 and 232 in said bushings. Theoutwardly extending end of shaft 231 is provided with a drivable gear orsprocket 233, with inwardly extending ends of shafts 231 and 232, whichterminate substantially directly within the front wall of the tank beingprovided with pinions 234 and 235 (FIG. 10). However, whereas theoutwardly extending portion of shaft 231 is provided with the sprocket233 the shaft 232 terminates adjacent to the bearing means 227 as bestshown in FIG. 7.

It is now believed that the reader will understand that by imparting adriving rotation to the gear 233 the pinions 234 and 235 which aredisposed within the tank and are adapted to support therebetween thepinion 236, which is supported adjacent to the extremity of the axiallydisposed shaft 44, the work support means will in turn also be driven.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that in this form of theinvention the work support means is readily removable from the tank foradjustment of the individual carrier members as well as to secure thecurved plates or cylindrical bodies thereto. The pinion 236 carried bythe reel may be lifted out of supporting engagement with gears 234 and235 merely by securing the lower end of hook 238 beneath the shaft 44between the vertical end wall of the reel and the rear face of the gear236. To assure proper assembly of the reel carried pinion 236 with thesupporting pinions 234 and 235 the inside of the front and rear walls ofthe tank are provided with guide rails 240 (only one shown) (FIG. 8)which are arranged to receive the nose portion 241 at the end of theshaft 44, said nose portion extending beyond pinion 236, as best shownin FIG. 9.

As viewed best in FIG. 9, the carrier 226 which supports the innermostof the bearing means lies flush against a plate 245 which is providedwith a horizontally spaced pair of apertures said plate being adaptedtobe supported by and moved perpendicularly relative to the front wall ofthe tank with the pinion carrying shafts 231 and 232.

The inwardly extending surface or wall of the plate 245 which oifstandsfrom the exterior surface of the front wall of the tank is provided withhorizontally spaced splash collars 246-246 which surround each of theshafts 231 and 232 (only one shaft shown) the outwardly extendingportion of each of the splash collars being concentric with andtelescoped by complementarily arranged splash collars 247247 (one shown)one each of which are secured to the rear surface of the pinions 234 and235. The splash collars may be secured to the plate 245 as well as tothe pinions 235 and 235 either by braising, welding or any othersuitable means. Thus, it will be apparent that with the inclusion of theplate 245 and the telescoping splash collars the etching material whichpasses through the slotted area in the front wall of the tank, either inthe form of mist or droplets, will not come into contact with theinnermost bearing means.

Also, as best shown in FIG. 9, a cover element or shroud 250 providedwith a pair of vertically extending slotted areas complemental to thecircumferential area of pinion shafts 231 and 232 will confine theetchant mist which passes through the slotted area in the tank wall andeventuates into a liquid, to the bleed hole, thus leading the liquidback to the tank and the etchant chamber therein.

Whereas the mechanism described heretofore and which is particularlyadapted to perpendicular movement of the axially extending work supportmeans as well as those means which gradiently reciprocate the slides ina horizontal direction to-and-fro is only shown positioned adjacent tothe front wall of the etching machine it is to be understood that theseelements are also duplicated at the rear Wall of the machine andarranged to be driven by the chains schematically shown at 251 and 252about which are entrained sprockets 253 and 254 the latter being keyedto and manually driven by shafts 91 and 84, respectively.

Although the description of this invention as well as the drawings whichaccompany it disclose, paddle means as being the medium by which theetchant is lifted from the bath contained in the tank and projectedagainst the work it is considered to be within the scope of thisinvention to correlate spray means on the opposite sides of the tank, asdistinguished from the paddle means shown, and likewise control theirreciprocal gradient movement toand-fro relative to the work supportmeans, thus in this manner also obtaining a controlled application ofthe etchant to the work and reducing undercutting thereof.

Although two embodiments of the invention have been depicted anddescribed, it will be apparent that these embodiments are illustrativein nature and that a number of other modifications in the apparatus andvariations in its end use may be effected without departing from thespirit or scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an improved etching machine providing for perpendicular adjustmentof a horizontally disposed work supporting means relative to coplanarreciprocably disposed etchant applying means the combination comprising,a substantially enclosed tank provided with front, rear, side and topwalls having a chamber in the bottom thereof adapted to receive a bathof etchant fluid, coplanar horizontally disposed reciprocable means forprojecting fluid in a convergent direction toward the surface of thework supporting means and means providing for reciprocation of the fluidprojecting means toward and away from the axis of the work supportingmeans as said last named means is raised and lowered in a vertical planerelative thereto.

2. In an improved etching machine providing for perpendicular adjustmentof a work supporting means relative to the bath of etchant thecombination comprising a substantially enclosed tank provided withfront, rear, side and top walls having a chamber in the bottom thereofadapted to receive a bath of etchant fluid, coplanar horizontallydisposed reciprocable driven paddle means positioned in contact with thefluid in said chamber for impelling liquid from the bath in a convergentdirection toward the work supporting means and means providing foractuation of the liquid impelling means toward and away from the axis ofthe work supporting means as said last named means is raised and loweredin a vertical plane relative thereto.

3. In an improved etching machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein thedriven means for the horizontally disposed reciprocable means comprisesa power means.

4. In an improved etching machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein thedriven means providing for perpendicular adjustment of the worksupporting means is a power means.

5. In an improved etching machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein asingle power means actuates the work supporting means and said liquidprojection means.

6. In an improved etching machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein thetank is constructed of complemental, separable top and bottom portions.

7. In an improved etchingmachine as claimed in claim 2, wherein thefront and rear walls of the etchant receptacle are provided with meansdefining elongated horizontally slotted openings therein, diametricallyopposed shaft portions provided at each extremity of the paddle meansarranged to be received in said means in said front and rear walls,slide means 'movably positioned adjacent to said means in the front andrear walls and bearing means carried by said slide means adapted tosupport said shaft means.

8. In an improved etching machine as claimed in claim 7, wherein theslide means are actuated by power means.

9. In an improved etching machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein thework supporting means is provided with an axially extending revolubleshaft means having diametrically otfstanding portions, means definingcomple mental slotted areas in the opposed sidewalls of said tankadapted to permit extension of said shaft means therethrough andvertically reciprocable slide means supported in spaced relation to thesides of said tank wall adjacent to said slotted area and arranged tosupport said shaft means. A

10. In an improved etching machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein meansare provided for advancing and retracting the slide means relative toeach other.

11. In an improved etching machine as claimed in claim 7, wherein theopposed shaft portions which extend through the front and rear walls ofthe tank are provided with fiinger means, and complemental cover meanscarried by said tank walls shrouding said flinger means.

12. In an improved etching machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein eachof the top side walls of the tank comprise hinged lid portions therebypermitting access to the interior of the tank.

13. In an improved etching machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein thework supporting means includes an axially extending shaft means arrangedto project through the front and rear walls of the tank, bearing meansadapted to revolubly support said shaft means and drive means carried byat least one end of said shaft means.

14. In an improved etching machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein thework supporting means includes an axially extending shaft, pinion meanscarried adjacent to at least one end of said shaft, plural drive meansarranged to extend through the wall of said tank, pinion means carriedby the inwardly extending ends of said drive means with the pinion ofsaid shaft means being supported by and driven through said pinionmeans.

15. In an improved etching machine as claimed in claim 14, wherein theinterior of the front and rear walls of said tank include offstandingguide means, stub shaft means extending beyond the pinion carried bysaid work supporting means and means for guiding said work supportingmeans relative to said drive means to position the same on the drivemeans.

16. In an improved etching machine as claimed in claim 7, wherein theslide means are provided with nut means, cooperative oppositely threadedmeans associated with said nut means, said threaded means being arrangedto reciprocate said slide means.

17. In an improved etching machine providing for perpendicularadjustment of a horizontally disposed work supporting means relative tocoplanar reciprocably disposed etchant applying means the combinationcomprising, a substantially enclosed tank provided with front, rear,side and top walls, coplanar horizontally disposed reciprocable meansfor projecting etchant fluid in a generally convergent direction towardthe surface of the work supporting means and means for controlling thereciprocation of said horizontally disposed fluid projecting meansrelative to the travel of said work holding means.

No references cited.

CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner.

17. IN AN IMPROVED ETCHING MACHINE PROVIDING FOR PERPENDICULARADJUSTMENT OF A HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED WORK SUPPORTING MEANS RELATIVE TOCOPLANAR RECIPROCABLY DISPOSED ETCHANT APPLYING MEANS THE COMBINATIONCOMPRISING, A SUBSTANTIALLY ENCLOSED TANK PROVIDED WITH FRONT, REAR,SIDE AND TOP WALLS, COPLANAR HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED RECIPROCABLE MEANSFOR PROJECTING ETCHANT FLUID IN A GENERALLY CONVERGENT DIRECTION TOWARDTHE SURFACE OF THE WORK SUPPORTING MEANS AND MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THERECIPROCATION OF SAID HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED FLUID PROJECTING MEANSRELATIVE TO THE TRAVEL OF SAID WORK HOLDING MEANS.